Common Pitfalls with Cloud Adoption and Getting it Right
Cloud computing has transformed the IT industry and has revolutionised the way organisations store, process and manage their data. With the rise of cloud computing, businesses can save time and money by moving their operations to the cloud. However, cloud computing adoption comes with its own set of problems and pitfalls that can cause significant damage to an organisation when things go wrong. This article highlights some of the common problems and pitfalls of cloud computing adoption, what can go wrong, and how to get it right the first time.
Lack of Planning
One of the biggest mistakes that companies make when adopting cloud technology is not having a clear plan in place. A lack of planning can lead to a haphazard approach to cloud adoption, resulting in the inefficient use of resources and a lack of clarity on how the technology will integrate with existing systems. It’s important to take the time to understand the specific requirements of your business and create a comprehensive plan for the adoption of cloud technology. This includes understanding the type of cloud deployment model that is best for your organisation, whether it be public, private, or hybrid, as well as selecting the right cloud service provider.
Security and Compliance Risks
Security is always a concern when it comes to data, and this is especially true with cloud technology. One of the biggest mistakes companies make is assuming that the cloud service provider is solely responsible for security. In reality, security is a shared responsibility between the cloud service provider and the organisation using the service. It’s essential to understand the security measures in place and ensure that your organisation’s data is protected.
One of the major concerns associated with cloud computing adoption is the risk of security breaches and non-compliance with regulatory standards. When organisations move their data and applications to the cloud, they entrust their data to a third-party provider who is responsible for maintaining the security of their data. However, it’s essential that cloud providers are fully transparent about their security protocols and how they will protect you against security threats.
Additionally, organisations must ensure that they comply with regulatory standards in their respective industries, such as HIPAA, PCI DSS, and GDPR. Failure to comply with these standards can result in legal action, financial penalties, and damage to a company’s reputation.
Lack of Integration
Many organisations have existing IT systems and applications that need to be integrated with cloud technology. One of the biggest pitfalls of cloud adoption is not considering the integration requirements of these systems. It’s important to identify the applications and systems that need to be integrated with the cloud and plan for how this integration will occur. This includes identifying any potential conflicts and ensuring that data is transferred securely between systems.
Data Loss and Downtime
Another significant risk associated with cloud computing adoption is the possibility of data loss and downtime. Cloud providers rely on complex systems that can fail due to hardware or software malfunctions, natural disasters, or cyber-attacks. These outages can have significant consequences for an organisation, including the loss of revenue, productivity, and customer satisfaction. Hence, the choice of the cloud provider is essential to ensure that these risks are managed and minimised.
Vendor Lock-In
Cloud computing adoption can also result in vendor lock-in, where an organisation becomes dependent on a single cloud provider and cannot easily switch to another provider. This can be problematic if the organisation is not satisfied with the quality of service or if the provider increases its prices. Vendor lock-in can also limit the ability of an organisation to adopt new technologies or take advantage of new cloud services that may be more suitable for their business needs.
Adopting a multi-cloud strategy is not always the answer either. Although this allows companies to diversify and spread workloads over different cloud providers, it multiplies the skills and effort needed to deploy and manage cloud services.
Lack of Visibility and Control
Cloud computing adoption can also result in a lack of visibility and control over data and applications. When organisations move their data and applications to the cloud, they relinquish some control over their IT infrastructure. This can result in a lack of visibility over who has access to their data, how it is being used, and where it is being stored.
Cost Management
Cloud technology can be a cost-effective way to manage data and applications, but it’s essential to control costs. Because of the ease of deploying cloud services, it is common for costs to quickly get out of control. One of the biggest pitfalls of cloud adoption is not having a clear understanding of the cost structure of cloud technology. It’s important to carefully review the costs and ensure that the organisation is only paying for the resources that they need. There are automated tools to help with this, but these must still be regularly reviewed and actioned.
Training and Skills
Finally, one of the most significant pitfalls of cloud adoption is not having sufficient skills within the teams involved. Many employees may be unfamiliar with cloud technology, and this can lead to inefficiencies and errors. It’s essential to provide training for employees to ensure that they have the necessary skills and knowledge to use cloud technology effectively. This includes training on security best practices and how to use specific cloud services. Working with a reputable cloud services vendor can help turbocharge this process of skilling up and knowledge transfer.
The Last Word
Cloud computing adoption has the potential to transform the way organisations manage their data and operations. However, there are also significant risks associated with cloud computing adoption, including lack of planning, security and compliance risks, data loss and downtime, vendor lock-in, skills, controls, and cost management problems. Organisations must ensure that they address these challenges to ensure a successful cloud computing adoption. This can include working with cloud providers that have a proved track record, having the right planning and skills in place, implementing robust security and compliance measures, monitoring cloud consumption costs, and ensuring there is always a clear alignment of the business requirements against the cloud strategy.
About the Author:
Ben Whittaker is an Azure Platform Architect here at Version 1.
